Anticipating the impact of drought in Lesotho

In July 2023, a severe, El Niño-induced drought was forecast for the 2023-24 rain season. The set triggers for the Lesotho drought Anticipatory Action Plan (AAP) were activated, having reached the ‘severe’ threshold, leading to the activation of the AAP for the first time. As a result, the World Food Programme (WFP) provided cash transfers, seeds and shade nets to 41,200 people to help them prepare for the drought. Nearly 800,000 people also received early warning messages, which provided recommendations on withstanding the forecast dry conditions. This document analyses the outcomes of the activation and presents key recommendations.

This document was originally published on the WFP website.